ICD-10 Code K85.02 – Idiopathic acute pancreatitis with infected necrosis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K85.02 – Idiopathic acute pancreatitis with infected necrosis
What it is
K85.02 identifies an acute inflammation of the pancreas with infected pancreatic necrosis, where no cause is documented. Use it when the record states the episode is idiopathic and the necrotic tissue is infected.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include acute abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and imaging or clinical evidence of pancreatic necrosis with infection. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents idiopathic acute pancreatitis and also specifies infected necrosis. The chart should support both the acute pancreatitis diagnosis and the infection of necrotic pancreatic tissue. If the cause is known, or necrosis is not infected, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use it for acute pancreatitis without necrosis, or for sterile necrosis. Do not assign it when another cause of pancreatitis is documented, such as gallstones or alcohol.
Coding tip
Confirm that the note clearly links the pancreatitis to infected necrosis and that no etiology is documented before coding K85.02.